The Empire Pass is your key to all-season enjoyment at New York State Parks. It provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to most facilities operated by New York State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Empire Passes are available for the 2023 season, multi-year or your lifetime. Instead of paying the vehicle use fee on each visit, simply present your season pass and it waives the fee for day use entry.

Learn where the Empire Pass is Accepted

• NYS Parks: https://parks.ny.gov/documents/admission/EmpirePassCardGuidelines.pdf

• Adirondack/Catskill Facilities (DEC) : https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9174.html

All Empire Pass products are non-returnable and non-refundable after purchase

Lifetime Empire Pass Card

For $750 you will receive an Empire Pass card with no expiration date. Buy it once and enjoy the parks for your lifetime!

Please Note: Although the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles will issue a reprint of your driver's license, learner's permit or non-driver ID card with the maple leaf icon showing your lifetime membership to NY State Parks, your state-issued ID cannot be used at the park entrance. Only the Empire Pass card is acceptable to waive the vehicle entrance fee. The online order confirmation is not acceptable for admission. The Lifetime Empire Pass is not refundable and not transferrable. If it is lost, there is a fee to replace it.

You must wait to receive the pass to use it. Once you have the physical card in hand, you can download the NY State Parks Explorer App and save the Empire Pass to the wallet feature of the app for entry into many park properties. For instructions to download the app, please view the brief how-to video
[Please note: An Empire Pass can be added to the wallet of one device, maximum.]

Please Note:

*** Please be sure you want to order the Lifetime Empire Pass. Due to the nature of this sale and the issuance of a new license, all sales are final.***

• Apply Online today.

Show Off Your Pride: I Love NY Parks License Plates

Parks has teamed up with the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles to offer three beautiful "I love NY Parks" license plates that allow you to show off your pride and passion for state parks and the great outdoors. One set (front and back) of these license plates are available for purchase to Empire Pass holders. To learn more visit NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

Donate Life Registry

Become an Organ Donor and you can save the lives of 8 people and enhance countless others through tissue donation. Learn more at DonateLife.NY

Need to Replace your Empire Pass?

Empire Pass Replacement:

If the Empire Pass is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, it is replaceable with a $17.00 fee payable by credit card, check, money order, or cash (in person only at most NYS Parks).

A replacement may be ordered over the phone, by mail or issued in person at most park facilities. All require the following:

• A completed Empire Pass Replacement Request form

• The damaged or destroyed pass or, if the pass was lost, verification of the original pass purchase.

NOTE: If in the event the original pass is found after the purchase of a replacement, we will not refund the replacement fee. The original pass will have been deactivated and is no longer usable.

All Empire Pass card products are non-returnable and non-refundable after purchase.

For more information, contact 518-474-0458 during normal business hours or email Empirepassport@parks.ny.gov

OverviewEmpire PassPatriot Plan BenefitGolden Park ProgramAccess PassLifetime Liberty PassGift Card